MILTON, Ont., Oct. 12, 2024 – Willys Home Run covered all the bases in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series as the 2023 freshman trotting filly champion returned to repeat as a sophomore with an impressive win in Saturday’s $300,000 Gold Super Final at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Sent off as the even-money favourite, Willys Home Run and driver James MacDonald tangoed early for the lead with chief rival R Liza (Jody Jamieson), before both settled behind pacesetter Kinnder Hotblood (Todd Rathchford). Willys Home Run exploded off cover in the stretch to win by three lengths in 1:53.1. It was her 10th career victory and the lion’s share of the championship purse boosts her bankroll to $944,000.
The Archangel daughter is trained by Robert Kyle Fellows for owners Dr. Sara Gatchell, Yolanda Fellows, Jake Higgs and breeder Reg Higgs – many of the same connections of the filly’s older brother Logan Park – a former top Ontario Sires Stakes performer which recently surpassed $1.75 million in career earnings.
“Kyle was really confident in her the last few weeks,” said MacDonald following the race. “And when she has a good trip, she has a wicked motor.”
For co-owner Dr. Gatchell, the win was especially poignant.
“She’s basically the culmination of a promise I made to my father when I was really young. He instilled my love of horse racing, and one day he asked me to buy a racehorse if I ever became a veterinarian and to name it after him.
“That was the goal and as luck would have it, my father-in-law, who has been in this business for decades, gave us the opportunity to own a broodmare and she [Willys Home Run] was the first foal.
“So it was for sure going to be Willys Home Run named after my father, William, who passed away last week from Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to ever watch her race. By the time she was a two-year-old he was stricken with very severe dementia.
“But I think my Dad was up there tonight and I think he was cheering her on and I think he gave her that last push when she blew by everybody. So, Dad, I think this one was your doing.”
FEATURED PHOTO: Willys Home Run winning the 2024 OSS Gold Super Final race for three-year-old trotting fillies on Oct. 12, 2024 at Woodbine Mohawk Park (Clive Cohen/New Image Media)
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